A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan late Tuesday afternoon, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), but no tsunami warning was issued.
The quake was recorded at 18:18 (0918 GMT) off northern Aomori Prefecture at a depth of 20 km, according to the JMA, and was also felt on the island of Hokkaido.
The American Institute for Geological Studies USGS has measured a magnitude of 6.2.
No tsunami warning was issued, state broadcaster NHK said.
The media reported no immediate damage.
Earthquakes are common in Japan, which lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Basin.
The country enforces strict building codes to ensure buildings can withstand strong earthquakes and regularly conducts emergency drills to prepare for a major earthquake.